CHINESE restaurants saw a pick-up in their takeaways during the Lunar New Year period but this was still not enough to cover their losses, caused by restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19, said industry associations.

They said that the movement control order (MCO) during the new year period had stopped families from their traditional reunion and festive dinners at restaurants, resulting in a drop of business up to 70% to 80% in some cases.

Although the government had allowed dine-in options, the strict standard operating procedures (SOP) in place meant it was too little, too late, restaurateurs said.

However, Malaysia Koo Soo Restaurants and Chefs Association president Wong Teu Hoon said they had seen an increase in takeaways during this period.

He told The Malaysian Insight that new year reunion takeaway orders increased by 80% compared to weekday takeaways.

He said, even though takeaway orders were more than in the past, business, in terms of revenue generated, was not as good as previously.

He said when patrons dined in, an average table consumption was between RM1,000 to RM2,000. By comparison, a takeaway package was only between RM300 and RM600.

Wong said he was made to understand that only 20% of Chinese restaurants were opened for dine-ins during the new year period, while the remainder focused on just takeaway orders.

He said that this year’s business volume was only 30% of that of last year.

Koo Soo San Yuen Guild Taiping chairman Law Eu Wei said this year’s Chinese New Year business volume fell by 80% compared to last year.

This was mainly due to people not returning home to Taiping for the new year due to travel bans under the MCO.

As a result, many families opted for takeaways.

“Takeaway orders, if compared to last year’s Chinese New Year eve, are 50% higher but business in terms of ringgit and sen is not very good.

“No one will come to the restaurants for dinner.”

He said reunions were normally large affairs with tables for 10 being the norm.

A table for two dining-in to is doing little to help business, he added.

“We are simply not making money.”

Penang Koo Soo Kwong Choon Tong Tea Shops and Restaurant Association chairman Vinah Yee said the situation was also the same in Penang.

She said most of their members’ shops did not open the evening of new year’s eve and the first day of the year.

“We were focused on preparing takeaway orders.”

The tale is the same as in other states. Business this year was down by as much as 70% compared to that of last year as a result of the travel restrictions and dine-in rule.

Yee said the other reason why the restaurants were not opened on the eve and the first day of the lunar year was because they were busy catering for the hundreds of takeaway orders.

“We had a family come to the restaurant on the fourth day of the year and were split on seven tables. With all the dine-in restrictions, it is also more convenient to have dinner at home.” – February 18, 2021.